Henchmen (2018)

Henchmen is a zippy, good-natured animated romp that finds fresh comedy in superhero chaos by focusing on the underpaid underlings—the guys sweeping up after doomsday devices and clocking in at the Union of Evil like it’s any other job. The movie’s secret weapon is its playful tone: it’s brisk, bright, and packed with sight gags and snappy banter, with James Marsden and Thomas Middleditch giving the voices a likable, slightly frazzled humanity. Beneath the jokes, there’s a surprisingly warm current about mentorship and finding your backbone when it matters, without ever getting heavy or preachy. It won’t convert you if you want deep mythology or edgy satire, but if you’re in the mood for an easy, energetic adventure with a clever premise and mild, family-friendly peril, it’s a fun ride.

Henchmen wants to be a playful, kid-friendly riff on superhero/villain culture, with a blue-collar “evil union” angle and a redemption arc for its washed-up lead. The problem is it often feels like a bargain-bin mashup of better animated comedies: the story beats are predictable, the humor skews pretty juvenile, and the whole thing can look and sound a bit cheap, like a TV special stretched to feature length. Adults hoping for sharp satire or memorable world-building will likely find it generic and oddly forgettable, even with solid voice talent doing their best. If you’ve got young kids and just need something mild, inoffensive, and brisk, it can pass the time—just don’t expect it to stand out.